Device comprising a receptacle for storing a liquid

ABSTRACT

The invention focuses on a container for the storage of a liquid that does not exhibit any insulation directly on its outer surface, but is set up inside a walkable chamber, which is covered with plate-shaped thermal insulation over its entire inside surface.

The invention focuses on an equipment including a container for the storage of a liquid.

In many cases a liquid is to be kept and stored at a temperature being different from the surrounding outer temperature level. For this purpose cladding the outer surface of the container with insulating materials, which thermally insulate the container together with the liquid contained in it against the external space—for example against a basement room. However such containers are in most cases relatively expensive, inter alia also because the outer surface of containers is often curved, for example following cylindrical or calotte-shaped surfaces, so that the insulating material needs to be adapted to such surface in respect of its shape.

Resulting from these disadvantages of the hitherto known state of the art is the problem initiating the invention of creating a configuration for a container for the storage of a liquid in such a way that the same can be manufactured as economically priced as possible, notwithstanding good thermal insulation.

For the solution of this problem in connection with a generic container for the storage of a liquid the invention provides for that such container does not exhibit any insulation directly on its outer surface, but is placed inside an accessible chamber that is covered with plate-shape thermal insulation over its entire inside surface.

Thereby plane plates made of thermally insulating materials or with a thermally insulating structural configuration can be used, regardless of the type and shape of the container. The size of the chamber is preferably chosen so that it is big enough to walk in also when the container is installed, thus is providing enough room for one person. The inside wall of a chamber or of a room can always be comprised of plane walls, ceilings, and floors, regardless of the shape of a fluid reservoir installed inside it, so that plane plates can easily be attached to the same, for instance by use of adhesive. Preferably all of the inside walls of the chamber accommodating the container as well as its ceiling and its floor are insulated, i.e. are covered with insulating plates.

For insulating materials preferably foamed materials such as foamed polystyrene or poly(1-phenylethan-1,2-diyl) come into consideration, for example in expanded form (EPS) like Styrofoam, or in extruded form (XPS) like Styrodur, the former preferably at walls and/or at the ceiling, the latter preferably on the floor. Furthermore also so-called vacuum insulation panels can be used, at which the actual insulating solid is completely surrounded by an airtight envelope and evacuated so that thermal conductivity is reduced to a minimum. Of course also other substances are conceivable as long as they exhibit sufficient thermal insulation properties.

The accessible or walk-in chamber is preferably filled with a gas, for instance with air.

It is recommend that the pressure inside the chamber corresponds to atmospheric pressure.

The chamber is preferably provided with an entrance, for example in form of a door, a lid, and/or a manhole. The entrance can be sealed up airtight in closed condition in order to exclude any heat transfer caused by convection.

The stored liquid may be water, for example hot water in the context of heating or as domestic hot water for kitchen, bathroom and/or WC. Also a cooled liquid like, for example, cold water, which is kept at a pleasant temperature level in summer can be stored in such a container.

The invention is especially appropriate for the storage of liquids containing water as primary component, i.e. water at a weight proportion of 50% or more, for example at a weight proportion of 70% or more, preferably at a weight proportion of 90% or more, in preference at a weight proportion of 95% or more, in particular at a weight proportion of 98% or more, or even at a weight proportion of 99% or more. This inter alia pertains to liquids mixed with special chemicals, for example with a frost protection agent, with rust preventing agents, antioxidants, and/or substances for influencing any other parameter such as viscosity, degree of acidity, boiling point, etc.

Generally also various other liquids can be stored in a container according to the invention when required, for example oils, acids, alkaline solutions or the like, in particular when temperature control of the same is desired.

It is within the scope of the invention that the pressure inside the container is equal to atmospheric pressure, or greater than the latter. Since the container according to the invention is manually or automatically checkable for leakages, it can be operated at internal overpressure without any risk to the groundwater and without any other impairment of the environment.

The chamber according to the invention may be placed belowground, for instance in form of a basement room or of a hermetically closed basement compartment, or in form of a cistern-like cavity underground. By embedding the chamber in soil, particularly below the depth of frost penetration of ca. 80 cm or 100 cm can be achieved that the temperature discharge during the cold season of the year is decreased because of the reduced temperature difference between the inside of the chamber and the ambience. A similar effect is achieved by installation in a basement room, particularly when the same is for the most part or completely located below ground surface.

On the other hand it is also possible to set up the chamber aboveground, for example in form of an (auxiliary) building or in a supply chamber or storeroom preferably on the ground surface, also however in an attic room or the like, as the case may be.

By incorporating it into a building being additionally insulated at its outer surface the insulating effect at the inner side of the camber can be improved even more.

Inside the chamber a ladder can be provided for so that a person can step down inside the chamber. For that purpose indeed also individual rungs could be directly fixed in a surrounding wall of the chamber; however such a measure would produce a large number of thermal bridges, as for each one of such rungs the insulation would have to be disrupted. Therefore it is better to use a ladder with stringers and to affix them at the most at their upper and/or at their bottom ends to the chamber. On the other hand also the alternative exits to directly attach such a ladder or individual rungs al the container itself, because in this way no thermal bridges to the outside would be generated.

The chamber should be equipped with some kind of artificial and/or natural lighting, for example by electric lighting and/or in form of a light well. A light switch for artificial lighting inside chamber could be installed outside the chamber for safely reasons so that no spark formation will occur inside the chamber when switching on or off.

As far as some natural illumination is desired in case of an aboveground chamber, at any rate some part of the chamber could be glazed. In that case however thermo-glass is recommended, therefore a multi-layer arrangement of glass panes, each with vacuum in between the individual panes. In case of an underground chamber a light well would be able to let daylight into the chamber where applicable.

The invention is furthermore distinguished by a heating unit for raising the temperature of the stored liquid, and/or by a cooling device for lowering the temperature of the stored liquid. For that purpose installation of a heat exchanger near the container or just inside the chamber will suffice; the actual heat generation or heat production may take play outside of it.

The heating and/or cooling facility, or anyhow a heat exchanger of the same, should be placed inside the walkable chamber in such a way that it is enclosed by the plate-shaped thermal insulation attached to the inner sides of the chamber walls. Therefore the brought in heat cannot escape to the outside, or thermal energy discharged for cooling purposes cannot penetrate into the chamber again respectively.

Preferentially heat exchanger of a heating unit and/or of a cooling device is placed inside the chamber and/or the container is at least component part of a heat pump or some other heat circulation system, for example of a solar collector heat circulation system, for transporting thermal energy either into the chamber or into the container, or for discharging it from there. The respective other heat exchanger of a heat circulation system is thereby arranged outside of the chamber, or anyway outside of the container according to the invention.

The invention may be expanded to the effect that at least one heating unit and/or a cooling device is component part of a temperature control circuit in order to regulate the temperature of the liquid inside the container to a specified temperature value, or to keep it within a range of permissible temperature values. By such measure can be assured that the temperature of the liquid inside the container always conforms to permissible values, for instance also then when a liquid quantum to be replenished initially exhibits a different temperature than the stored liquid.

On the other hand can at least one heating unit and/or cooling device be component part of a temperature control circuit in order to regulate the temperature of the air inside the chamber to a specified temperature value, or to keep it within a specified range of temperature values. When the temperature inside the thermally insulated area of the chamber is kept at the same level as the setpoint temperature of the liquid inside the container set up in it, the heat dissipation from the accordingly tempered liquid through the wall of the container equals zero.

For the purposes of temperature monitoring and/or control a temperature sensor should be installed in the walkable room of the chamber outside of the container. With this for example a fan inside the chamber could be activated to equalize the air temperature within the camber in case of overheating in winter or in case of temperature being too low during the warm season of the year.

Besides a leakage sensor can be installed in the walkable room of the chamber outside of the container, for example a sensor detecting the liquid stored inside the container. A preferred place for such a sensor for instance would be in a “sump” embedded in the floor of the chamber, thus there where leaking liquid would accumulate. For that purpose the floor could perhaps be finished with a slant towards one corner of the chamber, where then the liquid detection sensor would be located.

Finally it conforms to the teaching of the invention that in the walkable room of the chamber outside of the container a pressure sensor is installed. Thereby a defect in liquid tightness of the container could be detected, in particular in case of a pressure vessel and a sealed-up entrance at the same time.

Additional characteristics, details, advantages, and effects on the basis of the invention arise from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as well as by reference to the drawing. The only figure of which represents a vertical section through an equipment according to the invention for the storage of a liquid to be kept at temperature.

The equipment 1 for the storage of a liquid 2 to be kept at temperature exemplarily represented by the drawing 2 is located below the ground surface 3. However this is not mandatory. The entire arrangement could—with the exception of a foundation 4 or some other substructure—also be placed above the ground surface 2.

A distinctive characteristic of the equipment 1 according to the invention is a chamber 5, which is delimited by an enclosure 6.

This enclosure 6 preferably consists of walls 1, a floor 8, and a ceiling 9. Walls 7, floor 8, and ceiling 9 are preferably at least self-supporting. For these purposes multifarious materials providing sufficient stability come into question. Preferred however are building materials such as bricks, stone, or concrete; of course also other materials are principally possible like plastics, metals, or even wood, although such materials are generally inferior to inorganic, nonmetallic building materials in respect of stability and/or durability.

The floor 8 of the enclosure 8 respectively the upper surface of the foundation 4 can be finished with a slight slant inside the chamber in order to form some sort of a sump at its lowermost point for collecting leaking liquid 2 or the like.

Above the highest point of a possibly slanted running floor 8 the chamber 5 has a constant or invariable horizontal cross section all the way up to the inner surface of the ceiling 9. This horizontal cross section is preferably of polygonal shape with straight sides, for example has a rectangular or quadratic perimeter.

Principally of course also a circular geometry is imaginable, although this is not even promotive for further mounting and installation.

The walls 7 could be made up of several ring-like structural components that are stacked on top of one another, each with polygonal perimeter corresponding to the invariable horizontal cross section of the chamber 5; such ring-like structural components each could consist of concrete and could be provided with circumferential groove and/or tongue type indentations and raised sections at their top and bottom sides complementary to each other, providing for reciprocal centering.

On the other hand could also be imagined to build at least some parts of the walls 7 of vertically erected slabs of concrete. A conventional way of construction of the walls 7 using bricks or stones is of course also thinkable.

The walls 7 terminate at their upper ends in a preferably horizontal ceiling 9, for example made of concrete.

In case of a belowground embodiment the ceiling 9 is preferably provided with an access opening, for example in form of a lid 10 that closes up some sort of a manhole 11.

In case of aboveground embodiments preferably an access door in a wall 7 is provided.

An entrance—thus a lid 10 or a door—can be provided with a sealing all the way around to ensure that the chamber 5 is to a great extend closed up airtight in closed condition. An access entrance is either not lockable, or can at least anytime be opened from the inside.

At the inner side of the enclosure 6 thermal insulation is envisaged, particularly in form of thermally insulating plates 12, 13.

These can be made of different materials, for example foamed material such as Styrofoam or Styrodur.

The floor is preferably covered up with plate-type Styrodur material 12, the walls with plate-type Styrofoam material 13.

Other materials are imaginable, for example so-called vacuum insulation panels, in which a foamed or open-pored core is surrounded by an airtight envelope and then evacuated so that heat transfer due to convection cannot occur.

The thickness of insulating plates 12, 13 depends to a certain degree on their thermal insulation properties. While for conventional insulation plates without vacuum a thickness of 5 cm or more is recommended, preferably of 10 cm or more, may for vacuum insulation panels a thickness of 1 cm or more already be sufficient, or a thickness of 2 cm or more.

A lid 9 or an access door is preferably also thermally insulated at the inner side.

On top of the of insulating plates 12 attached to the floor a liquid-impermeable layer 14 may be provided, for instance in form of sheet metal with a folded-up rim 15. This layer 14 serves the purpose of guiding leaking liquid to a deepest point or sump 16 at the floor and to accumulate it there. There a liquid detection sensor 17 can be installed for setting off an alarm in the event of a leakage.

The chamber 5 is walkable through an access opening—thus through a manhole 11 with lid, or through a door.

In case of an access opening in the ceiling as demonstrated on the drawing a ladder 18 is provided below the manhole 11 so that operating or maintenance personnel can stepdown into the chamber 5. The ladder 18 is at the most at its upper and/or bottom stringer ends affixed to the walls/ceiling/floor of chamber in order to minimize heat bridges going straight through the insulating plates 12, 13.

Preferably is a manhole 11 together with the ladder 18 running beneath it not arranged at the center of the ceiling 9, but is offset towards the periphery of the chamber 5, therefore near a wall 7.

In the case of an access door, or when entering the chamber 5 is not required, a ladder 18 is superfluous.

Beside it there is room inside the chamber 5 for the installation of a container 19, for example in form of a tank. The container is preferably freestanding within the chamber 5 and is supported by feet 20 or some other base structure that are reaching though the insulating plates 12 on the floor and are resting on a solid floor 8 or on a foundation 4. Openings reaching through a liquid-impermeable layer 14 can be sealed up.

The horizontal cross section of the container 19 can suitably be chosen to match the horizontal inside cross section of the chamber 5, for example can itself be rectangular when the chamber has a square cross section, of course also with rounded edges where applicable. At the other hand this is not mandatory and therefore in a chamber 5 with a square cross section for example also a container 19 with a round cross section can be installed.

The container 19 itself does not need any insulation and therefore can consist of just one layer of a stiff material, for example of sheet metal.

A shell 21 of the preferably vertical standing container 19 is closed at the bottom by a bottom element 22, and at the top by a cap or a top cover 23. These parts can either directly or by way of bent transition sections 24 be welded together, or can be connected together liquid-tight in any other way.

Inside the container 19 is the liquid 2 to be stored. For inflow and outflow of liquid the container 19 has an inflow opening 25 and an outflow opening 26, to which in each case a pipe can be connected, either directly or via one or more interconnected armatures such as pumps 27, valves 28, shutoff dampers, flowmeters, or the like.

In the case of the equipment 1 represented on the drawing a valve 28 is connected at the inflow opening 25, and a pump 27 is connected at the outflow opening 28.

The inflow opening 25 runs preferably in the area of the upper top cover 23 into the container 19.

As far as the outflow opening 26 is also located in the area of the upper top cover 23 of the container 19, a suction pipe 29 reaching all the way down inside the container 19 close to the bottom 22 should be provided so that the pump 27 does not run dry until the container 19 is emptied to a great extent.

Furthermore a filling level sensor 30 can be installed inside the container 19, which either monitors one or more specified filling level threshold values, or detects the actual filling level and transmits it in form of a measured value to an evaluation, regulating and/or control system.

Over and above also a heat exchanger 31 can be placed inside the container 19 in order to provide for the right temperature of the liquid 2 inside the container 19, thus to heat it up or to cool it down.

The heat exchanger 31 preferably has the shape of a pipe wound to a helical coil 32, which is for example coiled around a vertical helical coil axis.

At both ends of the heat exchanger 31 respectively of the helically coiled pipe section 32 two pipes 33, 34 are connected, which are leaving the container 19, preferably at its topside 23. Via the flow temperature and/or the flow velocity of the heat transfer medium Inside the pipes 32, 33, 34 the heat input or heat removal into respectively from the container 19 can be regulated or controlled.

For temperature control a temperature sensor can be installed inside the container 19, preferably in its lower section and/or near the opening of a suction pipe 29.

Further sensors can he provided for in addition. In the chamber 5 outside of the container 19 for example a temperature sensor can be installed, so that also the space Inside the chamber 5, but outside of the container 19 can be temperature controlled or at least monitored.

Moreover a pressure sensor cold be installed so that particularly in case of a pressurized storage container 19 in combination with a sealed access opening or manhole 11 some leakage of the container 19 can be detected on the basis of raising pressure inside the chamber 5.

In addition also various other parameters could be monitored by additional sensors, for example a development of toxic vapors or gases, etc.

Finally at least one preferably electrical light source 35 is envisaged inside the chamber 5, which can be electrically activated by a light switch 36, preferably by a light switch 36 being installed outside of the chamber 5.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

-   1 Equipment -   2 Liquid -   3 Ground surface -   4 Foundation -   5 Chamber -   6 Enclosure -   7 Walls -   8 Floor -   9 Ceiling -   10 Lid -   11 Manhole -   12 Insulation plates -   13 Insulation plates -   14 Layer -   15 Rim -   16 Sump -   17 Liquid sensor -   18 Ladder -   19 Container -   20 Feet -   21 Shell -   22 Floor -   23 Top cover -   24 Transition section -   25 Inflow opening -   26 Outflow opening -   27 Pump -   28 Valve -   29 Suction pipe -   30 Filling level sensor -   31 Heat exchanger -   32 Helically coiled pipe section -   33 Pipe -   34 Pipe -   35 Light source -   36 Switch 

1. Equipment (1) including a container (19) for the storage of a liquid (2), characterized by the fact that the container (19) does not exhibit any insulation directly on its outer surface, but is placed inside a preferably accessible chamber (5), which is covered at its inner surface with plate-shaped thermal insulation (12,13).
 2. Equipment (1) according to claim 1, wherein the size of the chamber (5) is large enough to be walked in when the container (19) is installed in the chamber, wherein outside of the container (19) there is enough room for at least one person.
 3. Equipment (1) according to claim 1, wherein the inside wall surfaces of the chamber (5) are provided with plane walls (7), a plane ceiling (9) and/or a plane floor (8).
 4. Equipment (1) according to claim 3, wherein all inner sides of the plane walls (7) of the chamber (5) accommodating the container (19) and the inner sides of the plane its ceiling (9) and/or the plane floor (8) are insulated, and are preferably covered with heat insulating plates (12,13).
 5. Equipment (1) according to claim 4, wherein the insulation material (12,13) comprises foamed polystyrene, preferably expanded polystyrene (EPS) such as Styrofoam, or of extruded polystyrene (XPS) such as Styrodur, in which the former is preferably used at the inner sides of the plane walls (7) and at the plane ceiling (9) while the latter is preferably applied on the plane floor (8).
 6. Equipment (1) according to claim 1, wherein the insulation material (12,13) comprises vacuum insulation panels, at which the actual insulating solid is completely surrounded by an airtight envelope and evacuated so that thermal conductivity is reduced to a minimum.
 7. Equipment (1) according to claim 1, wherein the chamber (5) is provided with an access entrance, preferably in the form of a door, a lid, and/or a manhole (11).
 8. Equipment (1) according to claim 1, wherein the chamber (5) is placed belowground, preferably in the form of a basement room or of a hermetically closed basement compartment, or in the form of a cistern-like cavity under the ground surface (3).
 9. Equipment (1) according to claim 1, wherein the chamber (5) is located aboveground, preferably in the form of an auxiliary building or inside a storeroom, preferably on the ground surface (3), or inside an attic room.
 10. Equipment (1) according to claim 1, wherein a ladder (18) is provided inside the chamber (5) so that a person can step down inside the chamber (5).
 11. Equipment (1) according to claim 1, wherein the chamber (5) is equipped with artificial and/or natural lighting, preferably by electric lighting (35) and/or in the form of a light well.
 12. Equipment (1) according to claim 1, wherein the liquid (2) stored or to be stored comprises water, wherein the liquid comprises water at a weight proportion of 50% or more, preferably at a weight proportion of 70% or more, preferably at a weight proportion of 90% or more, preferably at a weight proportion of 95% or more, preferably at a weight proportion of 98% or more, or preferably at a weight proportion of 99% or more.
 13. Equipment (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a heating unit for raising the temperature of the liquid (2) stored inside the container (19).
 14. Equipment (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a cooling device for lowering the temperature of the liquid (2) stored inside the container (19).
 15. Equipment (1) according to claim 2, further comprising at least one of a heating unit and a cooling device, wherein the heating unit and/or the cooling device are placed inside the walkable chamber (5) in such a way that the heating unit and/or the cool device are enclosed by the plate-shaped thermal insulation (12,13) attached to the inner sides of the chamber walls (5-10).
 16. Equipment (1) according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the heating unit and/or the cooling device is part of a temperature control circuit for regulating the temperature of the liquid (2) inside the container (19) to a specified temperature value, or for keeping the temperature within a specified range of permissible temperature values.
 17. Equipment (1) according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the heating unit and/or the cooling device is part of a temperature control circuit in order to regulate the temperature of the air or some other kind of atmosphere inside the chamber (5) to a specified temperature value, or to keep the temperature within a specified range of permissible temperature values.
 18. Equipment (1) according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the heating unit and/or the cooling device is part of a heat pump or another heat circulation system, preferably a solar collector heat circulation system for transporting thermal energy either into the chamber (5) and/or into the container (19), or for discharging the same from there.
 19. Equipment (1) according to claim 2, wherein a temperature sensor is installed in the walkable room of the chamber outside of the container.
 20. Equipment (1) according to claim 2, wherein in the walkable room of the chamber (5) outside of the container (19), a leakage sensor is installed, preferably a sensor (17) detecting the liquid stored inside the container.
 21. Equipment (1) according to claim 2, wherein a pressure sensor is installed in the walkable room of the chamber (5) outside of the container (19). 